I don't know why, but i keep running across articles about indoor gardening as an alternative food supply source when the End of the Age of Empire is done playing itself out. I think it is mainly because the proponents of it have not a clue how difficult it is, how much power it sucks up (10, 1000w HID bulbs with accompanying fans, pumps etc will cost me [at 6c per kilowatt hour] 600.00 CDN a month..), or how tricky it can be. Especially if you experience power outages and do not have the requisite back up generators.
There are ways to get around this, but they require stand alone buildings such as quanset huts (which we are going to get soon...spirit willing...) which can have 'light tubes' installed in close enough density to trap and enhance any needed incoming light. But the sun seems to be changing! So who knows about that option.
We are working on a system to use T5 flourescent lighting with outdoor solar panels/small scale wind generators etc to pull food out of small spaces. At least enough to get a daily dose of leafy greens. But its a slow process. So before you or anyone you know gets into the business of basement growing...wait until our findings come out. No point in spending $3-10,000.00 on equipment which may not be able to be powered up in the event of a blackout.
Next week a few of us are going to try and spend 3 days without power and see how well we can cook on my woodstove, deal with hauling water etc. Should be a treat!
Go Feral or perish
lancifer
